It is Well With My Soul

 This song has a heart-breaking history. Horatio Spafford, a well-to-do Christian man went through the very trials of Job. His wife and daughters traveled by ship to England ahead of Spafford. Their ship was struck by an iron vessel and sank in 12 minutes. Only his wife Anna survived. Spafford took a ship to England to be with her. As the ship passed over the spot where his 4 daughters had been lost, the ship's captain informed Spafford. He went down to his cabin and wrote this song. The rest of Spafford's story is one of heartbreak and triumph. The Spafford's are buried in Jerusalem where they finished their lives doing mission work.

The song is performed by Acapeldridge, a "group" consisting of just one guy singing all 4 parts, which accounts for the amazing blend of voices. A sad but as hopeful a song as you'll ever here.

Tom

 

 

Centerfield

 

 The sun is out and there's new grass on the field. There are some familiar songs about baseball out there and some not so familiar. They range from "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" to Peter Paul & Mary's poignant "Right Field". Right Field is sort of my baseball theme song. But this song by CCR's John Fogarty is the one that gets me charged up to see a game.

Now if only Major League Baseball doesn't shoot its fans in the foot like the NFL did with a load of woke, LGBQT double plus ungood nonsense, I might even go to a game.

Boy how I miss Nolan Ryan and Pudge Rodriguez!

Tom King 2013

 

Pretty Little One - A Different Kind of Murder Ballad

This Steve Martin/Edic Brickell song is an untraditional traditional murder ballad. Usually the girl dies by strangulation, stabbing or drowning at the hands of her evil lover and left for dead somewhere. Sometimes she turns into a swan or something. It's all very tragic. Often the killer is caught and hanged. The country gal in this song, however, has a Daddy who taught her how to take care of herself. Probably comes from one of those families that "cling to their guns and religion." The ending of this murder ballad is rather different from the way most of these things turn out. You will smile, I promise.


Tom King

I Can Only Imagine - One Voice Children's Choir

 

 I love "I Can Only Imagine". It's very powerful. We played it at Micah's memorial service. The song was one of his favorites. This version is incredible. Masafumi "Masa" Fukuda, a Japanese-American songwriter, composer and music arranger is the choir director and founder of One Voice Children's Choir. He gifted and does incredible things with the children he draws together from across American culture. His music includes religious and non-religious numbers, but there is always a kind of spiritual kind of reverence for the well-chosen pieces the choir performs. I sat through this song tonight and had tears running down my face and I'm not ashamed.

This piece is nothing short of awesome (and not the sort of awesome people throw out for something that is merely pretty good).

Tom King

 

 

 

 

Do They See Jesus in Me

Once again, my second favorite singer in all the world (her Mama is still my #1 favorite) with a song for Sabbath.  I tell people Meghan got her singing ability from me because her Mom still has hers. Actually, she got her perfect pitch and lovely voice from the gene pool on her Mom's side. On my side we play guitar and kind of hum along in the background because we've been told not to sing too loud. It throws the others off. We tend to wander off key a lot. I've gotten better at it, but Miss Sheila still has to stop up her ears whenever I get musical.

Not so with Miss Meghan. I have a few brief clips of the two of them singing together. One day I'll post them on Youtube and here. In the meantime here's Meghan singing a lovely song call Do They See Jesus in Me? Knowing my daughter, I think they can.

Tom King

Love Has Come for You - The Best Anti-Abortion Song Ever

Steve Martin, Edie Brickell and The Steep Canyon Rangers perform this lovely song about an unwed mother who decides to keep her child. This one made me cry, which, of course, was what the writer intended. I was listening to my monster eclectic music collection today and it popped up and as many times as I've listened to it, it still got to me. Edie Brickell does such a lovely job with Steve and the boys.

Tom

Home Free Puts Sea

 

Of all the acapella groups out there these days, Home Free is probably my very favorite. Here they've gone and done my favorite folk genre proud with this driving medley of sea shanties including the song that rehooked me on them - The Wellerman. Enjoy!